The Love Factor

By: Quinn Ivins

Narrated by: Lori Prince

Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Molly Cook is almost 30, with dismal career prospects, and has given up on saving the world. It might be the 90s, and everything's shoulder pads, Doc Martens, and The X-Files, but people won't budge on gay rights. Molly decides to give a PhD a whirl but finds herself more interested in campus politics...and her strict and sexy statistics professor.

Professor Carmen Vaughn is stuck in small-town Maryland with smarmy blowhards for colleagues and ungrateful students who can't handle her high standards. She has no intention of coming out, least of all to Molly, a troublemaking grad student who can't stop picking fights with the conservative faculty.

But when Molly discovers evidence implicating a homophobic colleague in a scandal, Carmen can't ignore it - even if the subject hits too close to home. As the two women work together to make their case, they grow closer than Carmen ever imagined. But she absolutely refuses to get involved with a student.

The thing is, as the chemistry builds between them, Molly isn't sure she wants to be a grad student anymore...if she ever did.

Contains mature themes.

©2020 Quinn Ivins (P)2020 Tantor

Worth it!

Honestly, Ivins books are always worth it. She's great at creating interesting characters with fun dynamics. Molly and Carmen's chemistry is fantastic and the plot is great. I think the only flaw is that the plot is just too good and not enough time was given to the romance, even though both characters are fantastic and work great together. Or maybe I just wanted one more hour with this book.

A Great Story!

I loved this book! Narration by Lori Prince was superb...no surprise there. And the author, Quinn Irvins, new to me, wrote one compelling story. Taking place in the late 1990s with a backdrop of the political unrest of President Clinton’s special prosecutor’s investigation and impeachment, Dr. Carmen Vance and grad student Molly Cook become enmeshed in their own investigation of fraud fueled by hate and bigotry. The characters are fully developed, engaging, brilliant, strong women. My suggestion: get this book!

A lot of academia material

This story was long on academia and data points, short on romance. I actually got a little bored with the theme about the middle to 3/4 into story that even though the 2 main characters had a mission together there was very little hint of any romance developing. The actual romantic climax of the romance wasn’t until the end of the book.

Lori Prince is one of my favor narrators but I think Prince missed the mark in representing one of the main characters by voicing her in a ‘raspy’ rough voice without femininity.

This is not one that I dreaded the ending or that I am interested in listening to again. Lacking in excised romance.

Read the book instead.

When I read this book, it quickly became one of my favorites. I've never been a Lori Prince fan but I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt (again). I probably won't listen to this audiobook again. LP's narration doesn't do it for me. Carmen's character is strong, confident, ice queen. I didn't think Lori portrayed her as such. I've always thought LP's narration was mediocre, just average. Don't understand all the high ratings. The book itself, is excellent! Really loved it!

Another great one!

Whew! Holy time worp Batman! Not only did Quinn bring the nineties back in all its glory and decking but placed believable characters in our midst. Carmen and Molly were a while chemistry set and brilliant to boot. Thank you Mrs Ivins. Lori Prince’s narration was immaculate.... as always 💜

Wonderful smart debut

The story of Carmen & Molly- two women brought together in academia during the burgeoning gay rights movement in the 90’s. It is so well written- especially the details about the unethical use of data, the challenges of being a grad student and a woman and a minority in academia- it all rang very true. It involved a bit of a whistle blower case that kept me on the edge of my seat. The only reason it doesn’t get a 5 star from me is that the romance isn’t as fleshed out as the investigation that brings the women together. We have to wait til the end to get a payoff and by then I was left wanting more- where are Carmen and Molly now? Maybe an epilogue!

Slow burn...

Another audio Lori Prince knocks out the park. Read the book a couple of months ago, my first go around with this author and was pleased and more than happy to support the audio version. No real complaints. Would be nice to see how their life shapes out since it was such a slow burn or an epilogue would of been icing on the cake. Just my two scents.

Age-Gap Slow Burn Romance

Molly cook is a PhD candidate at Maryland University and an out an proud lesbian. She is interested in campus politics and her sexy statistics professor. When Molly discovers evidence that a homophobic colleague has falsified a survey data Professor Carmen Vaughn and Molly are forced together to prove he committed fraud. A very slow burn lesbian romance.

Suggested read for the younger LGBTQ generations

Beautifully written! As a 35 year old lesbian, this book hit home in many ways. But, it also reminded me of how far we have come. This book highlights the bravery of women to be their true self in a time when it was still wrong to be gay. I love how it played out, my only wish is that the ending would have been an epilogue into their future. Despite that, this was still an insightful read.

Stepping back in time

This is set in the late 90’s and boy does it bring back memories. Awesome student/Professor story. Molly is optimistic and determined to make changes in our society. Carmen is closeted due to her family and profession. Sparks fly as the two have to work together and fight for the truth. Carmen seems so vulnerable and Molly is able to get close to her and I think make her brave. Great story it really gets you involved and Lori Prince does a fantastic job with narrating as always.